6,300 tourists visit Con Dao Island

Con Dao island in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province welcomed more than 6,300 domestic and foreign visitors in January, an 84 per cent increase year-on-year, according to local tourism authorities.

The number of foreign visitors was up almost three times to more than 2,300.

The island's tourism revenues topped VND25.4 billion (

US$1.2 million), a 347 per cent increase.

Nhan Dan (The People)

Rare birds flock to Tram Chim National Park

Around 50 sarus cranes (G.a.Sharpii), a species of bird listed in the World Red Book of threatened species, have arrived at the Tram Chim National Park in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta Province of Dong Thap in the last few days.

Nguyen Van Hung, the park's director, said the birds would continue to come to the park for the next few days. Last year an estimated 100 of them flocked to the park.

More than 1,200 Asian openbill storks (anastomus oscitans) and 700 painted storks (mycteria leucocephala) also come to the park.

Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon)

Southern region told to step up dengue fight

The preventive medicine department has ordered health departments in HCM City and Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and An Giang provinces to step up measures to combat dengue fever.

The number of people contracting the disease has increased dramatically in many southern provinces since the beginning of the year.

In HCM City, more than 1,300 people were hospitalised, according to the city's health department.